Improvement in revolving fire-arms



e.. F. & J. E De DARH-31N.- Revolving Pire-Arm-. Ne.102,782. v Patented May `10, l1870.

Marins. vnomumonmmen, wAsnMa'wN. o c.

UNrTnD STATES CHARLES FELlX DE DARTEIN AND JULES EDOUARD- DE DARTEIN, OF

` STRASBOURG, FRANCE.

IMPROVEMENT IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 102,782, dated May 10, 1870.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES FELIX DE DARTEIN and JULES EDOUARD DE DARTEIN, of Strasbourg, in the Empire of France, have invented a new and Improved Fire-Arm; and we do hereby declare that the following` is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which willenable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in revolving tire-arms; audit consists, chiefly, in a novel mode of actuating and stopping the revolving cylinder. The revolving cylinder is set in motion or locked by means of portions of helices which we call winglets77 or lugs,"7 of which there are as many as there are boresin the revolving cylinder. These lugs are arranged symmetrically on the exterior periphery of the revolving cylinder, and are actuated by a sliding bolt that is connected with the sliding hammer. The bolt has a spring, click, or pawl which yields to the lugs while the bolt is moving forward, while it becomes rigid to move them and turn the cylinder during the hackward movement of the bolt.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel represents a back view of the cylinder, with its bolt in section. Fig. 2 is a right-hand-s'ide view of the same, the bolt being about cooking. Fig. 3 is a left-hand-side view o' the same, showing the piece after cooking. Fig. et is aplan view of the Same. Fig. 5 is aplan view 0f the bolt and click, the dotted lines showing the position of the click after discharge. Fig. 6 is aside view of the pistol. Fig. 7 is alongitudinal section of the same. Figs. S and 9 are separate views of the safety-stop.

Similar letters of reference 4indicate corresponding parts.

X is the revolving cylinder of a suitable rearm. The cylinderXs provided on its exterior periphery with portions of helices or lugs A i A2 A3 A4 A5 AG corresponding to the number of chambers -in said cylinder. Between these lngsis arranged, on the lower arm of the stock, a sliding bolt, V, which has a groove, G, across it. This grooveis parallel with thelugs A', so as to let the latter pass while the cylinder X` is rotating. To the bolt is pivoted a click, B,

with aspring, B. This click B folds down, so as to pass 'under the lugs A while the bolt V is moving forward, and then immediately becomes rigid, being acted upon by its spring E, so as to carry along the following lug as the bolt moves backward. Thus by cocking the click B, being` pushed in the direction of the black arrow, Fig. 2, catches the lug A', forinstance, and causes it to pass on the opposite side ot' the bolt, thereby imparting a rotary motion to the cylinder in the direction of the dotted arrows, Figs. land 2, the degree of inotion being such as to make the axis of the chamber A' in this instance coincide with that of the long barrel. l

The boltV, which forms part ofthe hammer V', is held back by a tumbler, Gr, which falls into the notch H provided for it. By moving tbe triggerI the tumbler is withdrawmthe bolt is forced forward by its spring E. A pin,P, lsecured to the hammer, enters the upperchamher or deflect along the line L L. When the lug' A2 has been passed the click will rise again, under the action of the spring E upon its tail T, and will assume the position shown in dotted lines, Fig.5. It is then ready to catch the lug A2, the same as it did A', &c., for every following cartridge. l f

Figs. 6 and 7 show the application of our system to a pistol, as well as some generalimprovements applicable to tire-arms. The pistol comprises a barrel, acylinder, a holt, with its spring, a tumbler-trigger, with its spring, and asafety-stop. The whole of these pieces are mounted on a stock made partly of metal and partly of wood. We shall now proceed to describe the various portions of the arm. The barrel is of the ordinary description, either ritled or smooth, and carries two opposite sights, Z Z'. The barrel is'secured by a screw-thread in the l'errule or union M, which forms part ot' the pistol-shaft. The operator der nearer to or farther from the back facing of the barrel. Uponthe facing of the cylinder there is or may be a conical projection, d, at each chamber, corresponding in form to a ring, O, of leather, india-rubber, or any other elastic material, secured to the breech end of the barrel, so as to slightlyoverlap the same. When, by the semi-rotation imparted to the barre-l from left to right, the latter facing closes upon the facing of the cylinder the ring O slips over the conical burr ot' the chamber opposite the barrel, and forms agas-tight joint between the two. Esca-pe of gas is thus entirely obviated; but however advantageousthis result may be, it necessitates a double motion ot' the barrel for each shot tired. 1f, therefore, the extremely tightjoint is no object, and quick tiring be required, the operator may use the sight Z'. Two stops, Y, placed one on each side of the barrel, are used for lnaintaining the barrel in either of its two positions.

The cylinder X has six -bores or chambers, but this number may vary, and acentral bearing for the vspindle T', on which it revolves. The cylinder X is provided at its back part with a ferrule or hoop, X', carrying the lugs,

or winglets A' A", and this ferrule is secured by screws.

The chambers of the cylinder may have grooves of .riiling to correspond exactly with the grooves of the barrel, if the latter be riied. Under the bolt V there is a sole or rail, W, sliding in a guide-slot, J, in the under piece of the stock. This rail is secured to the body V by two screws, U U', which serve at the same time to keep the bolt in the slot J, the tirst one, U, having a bolt-head, so that the nger of the operator may catch it while cooking and uncocking.

The bolt V is pushed forward by a spring, K', mounted on the two tenons K, and having two arms or branches of an equal elasticity, the shorter one bearing against the back a ot' the stock-mounting, and the longerone against the tail ofthe bolt, thus tending to push the latter forward with sucient impetus to lire the priming of the cartridge. The firing-pin P is screwed into the upper portion of the bolthammer appendix V', so that if the user of the arm wants to render the tiring of the cartridges amatter of absolute impossibility he need only move the needle back ofthe breechfacing by merely unscrewing. v

y The piece G performs the part of both the tumbler and trigger now7 in use. 'It is pivoted ,on the gudgeon g, and itsnib bis forced against the footp of the hammer V' by the spring G' acting on its tail.

The safety-stop is a mere spring, Q, having a nib, e, projecting inside the mounting, butis vcovered in with wood, so that the knobfalone shall be visible outside. When left to its own tendency the ,spring will stand up, so that the nib e shall not pass beyond the inside of the mounting, and thus will notimpede the travel of the bolt. In order t'o use this safety arrangement the operator has to pull the bolt back with his forenger, bearing at the same time with his thumb upon the knob f, thus causing the nib e to project inside, then letting go the bolt he allows the same to advance and becomev engaged with the nib e, which keeps it in place, while at the same time the pressure of-the spring R' upon the bolt prevents the said nib re-entering its place. llhe operator then wishing to re pulls the bolt V back to the compressed or tension state, and the nibe of the spring Q being then released the latter will of itself retire to its place, offering no longer au obstacle to the discharging motion of the bolt V; but in order that the boltV may not shoot forth accidentallyi. e., without the will of the wearer of the weapon-we employ the buttonf, which is caught by the springvQ, may slide in it and hook onto the plate carrying the spring, thus paralyzing the tendency of the latter toward recoiling.

The loading can be effected from the back end of the cylinder when ordinary cartridges are used. To thisjeffect a door-or gate, s, is arranged in the breech u, which is kept either open or shut by the pressure of a small spring on a tail or projection near its hinge. Instead of one gate only, two may be used., We may also add that all the parts of the mechanism subject to wear-such as the tail, the foot, the sole, and the pins of the bolt, the lug, ferrule,

or hoop of the cylinder, &c.-wll inthe course of manufacture form small pieces, which can be at once tted on the main pieces by'screwing or pinning, so as to be-easily replaced.

The invention is equally applicable vto pistols, muskets, ritles, &c., the details of construction being necessarily modified in accordance with the nature of each arm.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentv 1. In combinatiomwith the cylinderX, provided with helical lugs, lthe .bolt V, having click B and spring R, the hammer V', tumbler G, trigger I, and spring B, all arranged to operate substantially as shown and described.

V2. The sliding boltV, grooved to correspond with the helical lugs, and provided with a click, B, and spring R, for the purpose ot' imparting intermittent rotary motion to the cylinder, as

set forth.

c. n. DE DARTEIN. .JULEs DE DAETEIN. 

